India Sends Second Relief Consignment for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh

India has sent to Bangladesh its second relief consignment to help tens of thousands of displaced Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar following a military crackdown, triggering one of the world’s worst refugee crises.

Over 6,00,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar’s violence-hit Rakhine State to neighboring Bangladesh since August when the military intensified the crackdown against alleged militant outfits in the area

Bangladesh has repeatedly sought India’s help to put pressure on Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis. During a recent high-level visit of UN Security Council, Bangladesh called upon India as well as Russia, China, and Japan to play a stronger role for Rohingya’s secured and dignified repatriation.

Earlier, Bangladesh premier Sheikh Hasina engaged the foreign ministry to pursue a vigorous diplomacy with countries having direct borders with Myanmar along with Russia and sought enhanced Indian engagement in resolving the crisis.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will pay a two-day visit to Myanmar from May 10 during which key bilateral and regional issues, including the situation in the Rakhine state from where thousands of Rohingya Muslims had fled following violence last year, are likely to be discussed.

Last December, India had announced a development assistance of $25 million for the Rakhine State. Earlier, India sent relief materials for 3,00,000 Rohingya refugees in September last year under ‘Operation Insaniyat’ to support Bangladesh in its humanitarian efforts.